SMBC Principal's Hour Express

Do we sometimes feel that God is slow in fulfilling his promises? What happens when that feeling leads to doubt? Abram’s experiences in Genesis 15 speak powerfully to this situation.

God has promised Abram that he will make him a great nation. In Genesis 14, Abram becomes a player on the international stage. Will this be his moment? And what can we learn from Abram’s experience about how we are to pursue the things God has promised us?

Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations and promises to be with us as we do that, but fear can stop us from obeying. How can we choose the way of the promise when fear screams loudly? Genesis 13 has some surprising answers.

Not long after Abram is called to be a blessing to all peoples, he finds himself in Egypt, spreading curse rather than blessing. What goes wrong? What lesson does he learn in Egypt? How does this lesson help us to live by faith?

Here are the artists and photographers who supported today’s Culture Spot: Getty Museum, LA; Maria Rossenblatt, Rembrandt, ‘Woman with Gloves’; Anne Karine Lemstra, ‘Fruity Vermeer’ (via Instagram account of Tussen Kunsten); Earthquake rubble by Angelo Giordano; field with camels – unknown; Stabat Mater by Rogier van der Weyden, Public Domain; photo of Dali painting by Howard Stanbury, Salvador Dali, ‘Christ of Saint John of the Cross’.

What is God’s response to the brokenness and suffering in the world? What does God plan to do about it? And what is our part?